Tennis Insider Club with Caro Garcia

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Spanish ATP standout and 2026 Shanghai Masters champion, opens up about the pressure that nearly ended his career. He discusses anxiety, marriage, deleting social media, and discovering balance beyond tennis. He also shares why he left his longtime setup, moved to Monaco, rebuilt his team, and took control of his professional life.

Elina Svitolina, Ukrainian tennis champion and former world No. 3, discusses the crushing pressure to win, Grand Slam expectations, and the emotional toll of competition. She reflects on returning after childbirth, motherhood, representing Ukraine, burnout, and finding balance with Gaël Monfils. An honest conversation about ambition, family, and building a life beyond tennis.

John McEnroe has spent nearly five decades at the center of professional tennis — as a Grand Slam champion, world No. 1, rival, commentator and one of the most recognizable personalities the sport has ever produced.In this episode of Tennis Insider Club, McEnroe joins Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán for a candid conversation about what life at the top really feels like.He reflects on the pressure he experienced from a young age, why controlling his emotions on court was so difficult, and why even winning often brought little satisfaction before his attention immediately shifted to the next challenge.McEnroe also opens up about becoming a father, stepping away from the tour, and the difficult transition athletes face when tennis has become such a large part of their identity.The conversation explores Björn Borg’s sudden departure from the sport, the rivalries that defined McEnroe’s career, and why contrasting personalities remain so important to tennis today. McEnroe shares his perspective on Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz — including why Alcaraz’s ability to appear genuinely happy under enormous pressure fascinates him.Caroline also reflects on her own experience of retirement and the years when her results became inseparable from how she saw herself, leading to an unusually open exchange between two generations of Grand Slam champions.They also discuss:• Why McEnroe believes young players are pushed too hard• The role parents play in creating — or destroying — a healthy relationship with tennis• Why he encourages children to play multiple sports• The difficulty of separating self-worth from results• Why retirement rarely happens the way athletes imagine• How becoming a parent changed McEnroe’s perspective• Why personality and rivalry matter to the future of tennis• What McEnroe would do differently looking backA conversation about winning, pressure, anger, identity and learning how to live with — and eventually beyond — professional tennis.Hosted by Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Pegula watched players her age break through while injuries repeatedly interrupted her own career. After years outside the top 100, she began to wonder: “Is this not meant to be?”In this episode of The Insight, Jessica reveals why arriving later ultimately became one of her greatest strengths.She opens up about the injuries and comparisons that tested her belief, the moment she decided to take complete ownership of her career, and how building the right team helped transform her trajectory. She also explains why the calm exterior people see on court doesn’t always reflect what she is feeling—and why trying to manufacture emotion only made competing more exhausting.Jessica speaks candidly about becoming too focused on results, the burnout that followed, and how small goals—improving a kick serve or developing a drop shot—helped her rediscover the satisfaction of the craft.She also reflects on finally overcoming the Grand Slam “barrier” and reaching the US Open final, only to discover how quickly professional tennis moves on to the next match. Her biggest realization: success isn’t a single destination. The dream is the journey itself—the difficult weeks, the strange losses, the people beside you and the stories you collect along the way.This is an honest conversation about comparison, emotional authenticity, late success and learning to build a career that truly belongs to you.CHAPTERS00:00 “Is this not meant to be?”02:20 Escaping the comparison trap04:00 Why succeeding later helped Jessica05:00 Taking control of her own career08:20 What years of injuries gave her09:45 The truth behind her calm exterior13:05 Results, burnout and rediscovering improvement16:10 Breaking the Grand Slam “barrier”19:15 Why success disappears so quickly21:00 Learning to stop and appreciate it22:00 “The dream is the journey”23:10 Jessica’s advice to her younger self24:10 Why the worst weeks become the best storiesIf Jessica’s story resonated with you, share this episode with someone who feels like their breakthrough is taking too long.Subscribe to Tennis Insider Club for revealing conversations with the people shaping professional tennis.What part of Jessica’s journey changed how you think about success? Let us know in the comments.#JessicaPegula #WTA #Tennis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Knowles, former pro from the Bahamas turned top doubles player and coach of Jessica Pegula, shares candid stories from Bollettieri to the tour. He discusses why perfectionism holds players back. He explains teaching Pegula to practice smarter, celebrate wins and manage workload. He also talks about the crucial role of parents and how relationships shape potential.

Ryan Harrison, former ATP pro turned coach of Sebastian Korda, shares his coaching philosophy and how he helps players handle pressure and recover from setbacks. He breaks down turning match losses into growth, why practice must rehearse winning plays, how to choose a coach, and using data without overwhelming players. Short, practical takes on temperament, tactics, and building trust in high-stakes moments.

Brad Gilbert, former World No. 4 and longtime coach of Andre Agassi, shares his tactical take on why players lose winnable matches. He discusses mindset shifts with Agassi, the tiny 5–7 points that decide matches, when to stick with a plan, handling risk versus reckless play, and how preparation and big-point grit separate champions.

Ivan Ljubicic, former world No. 3 and longtime coach to elite players like Roger Federer, shares candid views on parenting, coaching and development. He discusses when parents should step back, why results are not the point, the risks of early success, choosing the right coach, and what made Federer endlessly coachable. Short, sharp conversations about ambition, balance and building lasting careers.

Bryan Shelton, former pro player and longtime coach who raised son Ben into an elite competitor. He recounts Ben’s 6 a.m. practice rule, the choice to leave college for the pro tour, and how he balanced being both father and coach. Conversations focus on fostering independence, asking questions over telling, and keeping confidence without controlling personality.

Corentin Moutet, French pro known for a crafty, unconventional game and emotional on-court personality. He talks about why he used to break rackets, how never learning to lose shaped his identity, and what facing players like Carlos Alcaraz revealed about his tennis. He also discusses music as an outlet, being misunderstood, his bond with Roland-Garros, and aiming for peace beyond results.